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Wow, only 2 days to think about this one! Anyone got any possibilities??? I'd be very happy with $20K!!!

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION has an IMMEDIATE NEED for Down-To-Mid Tempo, SOPHISTICATED and EMOTIONAL INSTRUMENTALS FOR an online commercial that will likely also be used for some TV spots in the UK. The estimated license fee for this is $20,000, and the Ad Agency needs to hear music as soon as possible!

They need tracks with a "Modern and Emotional feel." Your instrumentation should be mostly organic, but some light synth elements can be used to contribute to a more contemporary feel. Orchestral elements that help make your piece feel more emotional could also work very well for this. Light acoustic-based Rock tracks with strings and/or minimal modern synth pads will probably work best for this pitch. Your track should feel emotionally hopeful, uplifting, and inspiring. Please do NOT submit anything heavy, dark, or melancholy.

Our source tells us, "They do NOT want a wall of sound from the beginning to the end. There needs to be an engaging and compelling sense of dynamics, with high peaks and low valleys. Steer clear of repetitive, Coldplay-sounding tracks that just keep building." They're not interested in anything too aggressive, fast, or bombastic. Your instrumental needs to be at LEAST 1 minute and 45 seconds. Make sure that your Instrumental Track has a well-crafted, provocative, and emotional arc (with dynamic peaks and valleys) in that time frame.

TAXI Tip: You might want to start out on the lighter side with somewhat sparse instrumentation for the first 10 seconds or so, then introduce more instruments and a build, then drop back a little, create a little hope, then build again to another inspirational peak, and so on throughout your piece.

If you've got existing tracks that are longer than 1:45, but fit what they're asking for, go ahead and submit them! They can edit for length and time!

This gentleman often prefers faded over buttoned endings, but you can submit both for this pitch. If you've got an amazing piece of music and it's already got a buttoned ending, we doubt they'd pass because of that There's not a lot of copy (dialogue) in this commercial, so this is might be one of those rare opportunities where your music gets to be more prominent than usual. That said, do NOT try to show them what a compositional genius you are. Instead, give them a piece that makes listeners feel inspired, hopeful, and proud, but is not over done. The EMOTION should be the star of your Instrumental Track, NOT a bunch of overly complicated sections that distract from the emotion.

I like your song! I do wish I had a week to work on this. I have several orchestral pieces already that could maybe work but when I read a light acoustic rock feel with strings or synth I decided they would most likely return them. A $20K payout will mean you're up against some MAJOR competition, too. So I will pass.

except for the $20k payday which probably could drive anyone crazy - this listing is just like any other piece. if you can write a piece that's 2 minutes long by tomorrow night, you have as good a shot as any.

I am thinking light rock = fun playful percussion, claps, snaps, acoustic guitars, maybe acoustic bass, uke, some clean electric guitars or understated guitars with dirt. maybe some glock or celesta for accents. Acoustic piano, drums, and strings. More intimate like chamber size in the start, maybe bigger sections towards the end.

kinda of like some Colbie Callat or Tristan Prettyman except on the slower and more reflective side. Or Ingrid Michaelson...something like that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk her google ad. maybe not the right tempo, or the right feel with the subdivisions against the beat, but could be a start, and add drums and such to take it more to the light rock side of things rather than piano and strings.

but this is just my 2 cents, and the way it strikes me - if you write one to my interpretation of this brief, don't get mad at me if its a return. lol.

Good luck!

P.s. - interesting piece Hector - I think it sounds a little more challenging harmonically and melodically that this listing calls for, and the sounds sound a little synthetic rather than "real players". Feel wise, not enough contemporary "light-rock".

btw I listened to Tu Y Yo off your latin jazz album. beautiful. wonderful trumpet / flugelhorn player you have there.

Andy, good insight! I look forward to hearing what you come up with. I won't have the time this weekend. I have a few "emotional" pieces but feel they're too orchestral for what they want and not at all acoustic rock. An example would be this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZSbhWRPQmA What do you think?